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This error is what happens when amendments made from the dais are not made public in a timely manner. I take full responsibility for sharing the information I did during the second reading of the budget by the DC Council June 26. The intel I had from earlier that day was that CM Catania's amendment zeroed out most, if not all, of what Mayor Gray and DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson proposed for $50 million of the increased revenue. The zeroing out included 200 infant and toddler slots and a 10% increase for infant and toddler care, a rate increase for DC Office on Aging grantees, and an expansion of school-based mental health.

When asked, @Catania_EdCmte emailed me CM Catania's amendment; it is toward the end of this post. Certainly, it would have been better had the Committee on Education or CM Catania's personal staff tweeted, emailed, or posted on their website the amendment. The same goes for CM Evans' amendment, below. His staff should have posted or otherwise shared it with the public. The same for all other amendments offered from the dais.

The council rules for CP20 (PDF) require written amendments prepared after the deadline to be circulated on the dais. The rules also require CMs to make oral amendments available in written form to the public "as soon as practicable." Where both provisions fail is with immediate public notice. This is particularly important with subjects of great import to the public, such as the budget, and in an environment in which social media plays an essential role in information-sharing.

So what are we to do? I suggest advocates and others write and call members of the DC Council (find the list here and the council directory here (PDF)) and demand that they change the rules so that written amendments from the dais are available to the public immediately. Sure, I wouldn't have gotten a copy from a staffer since I wasn't in the room, but journos like Mike DeBonis, Patrick Madden, and Mark Segraves make a habit of tweeting pictures of documents. Members of the general public could follow suit. And while that is going on, the IT department led by Christopher Warren could post the amendment on the DC Council website.

Friday, June 28, 2013

Mayor Gray's got a day filled with youth-related activities. The one nearest and dearest to my heart is the June 28, 2:30 – 3:30 pm walk-through of Carver Terrace and Langston Dwelling as part of the One City Summer Initiative. The mayor and others will start the walk-through at 18th St and Benning Rd NE.

The New Organizing Institute's free eight-week Intern Summer Experience is open to all interns in the DC area. The program includes trainings, skill-building events, social functions, and much more. Interns can sign up here.

Soapbox: Return to the Golden Age of Soapbox Oratory! Traditionally, towns were inundated with wooden crates used for shipping various dry goods, and radical dissidents found they made handy platforms for giving fiery speeches. If you find yourself short on shipping crates, the Peace Center has one handily available for smaller or more informal gatherings. Suggested donation: $5-$10

The safe and legal way to get wet to beat the heat this summer―actually, every summer―is to use swimming pools and not by opening fire hydrants. The Department of Parks and Recreation has more than 40 aquatic facilities open this summer; use this search and mapping tool to find a pool, splash park, etc. near you.

District Fire and EMS Chief Kenneth B. Ellerbe added, "Opening a hydrant can lower the water pressure and seriously affect our ability to fight fires. Also, the force of pressurized water coming out of a hydrant can knock a person down and lead to injury."

Residents and visitors in the District can keep cool by staying in shade or air conditioning and drinking plenty of water. When the temperature or heat index reaches 95, residents are encouraged to take extra precautions against the heat. If they do not live in an air-conditioned building, they may take refuge at a District swimming pool, cooling center, recreation facility, senior center or other air-conditioned building. More information, and locations, can be found at dc.gov or by calling 311.

And of particular interest to community organizations, nonprofits, and District government agencies holding events this summer, DC Water makes a misting tent and cooling stations available on a first-come, first-served basis. More information about these great resources is available by calling the Office of External Affairs at 787-2200 or by going online to the DC Water Event Request Form page.

An additional Legislative Meeting will follow at 11:00 am or when the COW concludes. Some of the June 26 leg meeting materials are here. On the agenda is the second vote of the FY 2014 budget support act (delayed from June 18).

DC Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation exec Ed Davies will talk with Bruce DePuyt on NewsTalk June 24 at 10:00 am. DePuyt will ask Davies about the organization’s efforts to refocus on its mission of helping young people in the wake of the Harry Thomas, Jr. scandal.

Tune in to NewsChannel 8 streaming here, http://news8.net/, to see the conversation. If you have questions or comments, call (703) 387-1020 or email the show.

A few previews of what the Trust is doing:

Coordinating One City Summer Initiative 2013 including working with The BRIDGE Project to be the search tool for summer programs. The Trust has been the driving force behind onecityyouth.dc.gov, a new child- and youth-focused website.

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Voters in DC will, for the first time in November 2014, vote for Attorney General. Several organizations are sponsoring So You Want to Be DC’s Attorney General June 25 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm.
The forum, described by sponsors as a "lively and informative conversation," will consider the role and responsibilities of the elected attorney general.

The event takes place at the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law (4340 Connecticut Ave NW; Building 52, Room 518, Moot Court Room).
RSVP to Kathy Evangelista by phone (274-7437) or via email (kevangelista@udc.edu).

Today, the DC Council will hold an oversight hearing on truancy reduction in DCPS. This is an important topic for the future of the District, as school attendance is strongly linked with a student’s likelihood of high school graduation and future employment. While the Council and members of the Truancy Taskforce should be commended for their focus on truancy over the last two years, another major cause of schools absences – school suspensions and expulsions – has not received enough attention.

In short, suspensions and expulsions are a major source of school absences today and may produce many more future absences in the form of truancy. Based on these findings, we urge lawmakers to broaden their focus and consider how they can reduce all school absences, including those that result from suspension and expulsion.

Join the DC Statehood Coalition and other statehood supporters at DC's famous Palisades Parade on Thursday, July 4th at 11AM. We would like to have every DC neighborhood represented to show the strong momentum behind statehood. Just this week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) co-sponsored the New Columbia Admission Act, which grants statehood to neighborhood Washington, DC.

After we march for statehood, we can enjoy free food and drink, courtesy of the Palisades Citizens Association.

Mayor Vince Gray is holding a briefing on the implementation of The Innovation Fund (commonly known as the One City Fund) June 26 from 10:00 am - Noon in the Old Council Chamber (441 4th St NW).

Terri Lee Freeman, President of the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, will update attendees on the application and grant processes, timelines and other important details.

Although the name of the $15 million fund has changed, the purpose remains the same: to assist non-profit organizations in providing direct services to District residents and families in the areas of education, job training, health, senior services, arts, public safety, and the environment through a competitive and transparent grant process.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Remain up-to-date on all things summer by following @onecitysummer and #DCSummer. And if you are tweeting about a summer program or event, be sure to include @onecitysummer and use the #DCSummer hashtag!

Thursday, June 20, 2013

The last day of school for students enrolled in DC Public Schools is June 21 and for children and youth in charter schools, school's already out. The big question is, what are young people going to do this summer?

The city's new child- and youth-focused website onecityyouth.dc.gov is a terrific resource for parents and other adults in the family, youth themselves, case workers, organizations, policymakers, and the media. Check out the screen shot below or click here for onecityyouth.dc.gov to see what the site offers. Here's a cheat sheet:

Parents and youth can search for programs and events

Organizations can add their program to the summer's searchable database and add events to the calendar

Case workers can search for programs and various services and supports for all members of the family

Policymakers are able to learn about the goals for OCSI 2013 and read up on OCSI 2012

Members of the media are able to identify the programs and agencies involved with One City Summer and find potential sources for stories

Free summer meals are also incredibly important and they are available to all kids under age 18. That's right: FREE. More information about the program is available from the DC Hunger Solutions summer meals website.

Today, we take the next step in our journey to transform public education in the District. Now, the plans and proposals I will share with you may not send out seismic shockwaves or make big headlines – but they will make a real difference to District families and students.

. . .

To achieve our goal, we must rapidly expand the number of high-quality school programs for all learners. And today I want to talk about our three overarching strategies for getting there. Each of these strategies is based on what we have heard from members of our public education community and feedback sessions we have held over the past two years:

First, we’re going to scale up existing pockets of excellence to serve more students;

Second, we’re going to strengthen existing schools and programs to ensure that they provide the highest-quality education to the largest number of students; and

Third, we’re going to simplify the way families access all aspects of our education system.

Scroll to the bottom using the link above if you want a printable version; it's in PDF.

If you missed the One City Summer Kickoff and Truck Touch June 15, take a look at the Storified version of the event. Truck Touch won't return until next year, but you can find child-, youth-, and family-related events on the new child and youth hub, onecityyouth.dc.gov. You can also find programs and other information. Have an event you want listed in the OneCityYouth calendar? Provide the info and it will be included.

Mayor Vince Gray will talk with Bruce DePuyt on NewsTalk June 20 at 10:00 am. Among other topics, DePuyt will ask the mayor about lingering scandals in the District, the dedication of the Frederick Douglass statue, concerns about fire-rescue service on July 4, the proposal to legalize small amounts of marijuana, and more.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Mayor Vince Gray is holding a briefing on the implementation of The Innovation Fund (commonly known as the One City Fund) June 26 from 10:00 am - Noon in the Old Council Chamber (441 4th St NW).

Terri Lee Freeman, President of the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region, will update attendees on the application and grant processes, timelines and other important details.

Although the name of the $15 million fund has changed, the purpose remains the same: to assist non-profit organizations in providing direct services to District residents and families in the areas of education, job training, health, senior services, arts, public safety, and the environment through a competitive and transparent grant process.

Judge Zoe Bush, Presiding Judge of the Family Court of the D.C. Superior Court, and Terri Odom, Director of the Family Court Social Services Division, talk about juvenile crime and delinquency and the ways Family Court works with youth and families in this Len Sipes with CSOSA interview.

An additional Legislative Meeting will follow at 11:00 am or when the COW concludes. The June 18 leg meeting materials are here. On the agenda is the second vote of the FY 2014 budget support act. Some materials are on the DC Council website; others are below.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Week of June 17: Healthy Schools: The Role of Parents in Promoting Healthy School Environments, Food in the City: Smart Growth America

Week of June 24: D.C. Tax Revision Commission meeting, Parent Empowerment: An Effective Strategy for Improving School Food and Fitness, Where You Live Matters: Addressing Concentrated Poverty Neighborhoods

Friday, June 14, 2013

The One City Summer Kick-offJune 15, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm at RFK Stadium Lots 6 (Truck Touch is in Lot 7) will have something for everyone. Some of what you'll find at the event:

DC Housing Authority will recruit participants for the Fatherhood Initiative and Basketball Tournament

DC Office on Aging will share information about intergenerational programs for youth and seniors

DCRA is teaming up with Home Depot to offer a hands-on workshop at which children will learn about creativity and future careers in construction/building

MPD will provide information on summer safety and firework safety and McGruff will be available for picture taking with kids

The One City Summer Kick-off activities are listed here. The activities list also includes Twitter handles for DC government and nonprofit organizations participating in the kick-off so you can follow them and share your positive experiences! When tweeting, be sure to use the hashtag #DCSummer and include @OneCitySummer in the conversation.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

At-large CM David Catania, Chair of the Committee on Education, will talk about the pace of educaiton reform on NewsTalk with Bruce DePuyt June 13 at 10:00 am. Tune in to NewsChannel 8 streaming here, http://news8.net/, to see the conversation.

If you have questions or comments, call (703) 387-1020 or email the show.

Eric Fidler has Storified a successful policy change, documenting the interaction between government and the public on Twitter. Have thoughts about it? Have you had a similar experience? Leave a comment on Fidler's story.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Ward 5 CM Kenyan McDuffie is hosting a public safety and crime forum June 20 at 6:30 pm at Israel Baptist Church (1251 Saratoga Ave NE). Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice and MPD will brief community stakeholders about the actions MPD is taking to ensure the safety of residents and provide important safety information.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Flag Day is Friday, June 14. Charles Allen's Show Off Your DC Love with DC Flag Day! describes a wicked cool Flag Day-related campaign: To photograph families displaying their DC flag. Allen has amped up the campaign with a competition; read his blog post for the details.

Attorney and Democratic activist A. Scott Bolden and community activist Bryan Weaver will talk about the Michael Brown case on NewsTalk with Bruce DePuyt June 11 at 10:00 am. Tune in to NewsChannel 8 streaming here, http://news8.net/, to see the conversation.

If you have questions or comments, call (703) 387-1020 or email the show.

The Ward 7 Economic Development Summit hosted by Mayor Vincent Gray will take place June 29 from 9:30 am - 2:30 pm at HD Woodson High School (540 55th St NE). Free breakfast and lunch will be served to all participants.

Attendees will help develop a set of outcomes and priorities that will be used to ensure the community’s interests shape the future of the Ward. More information and to register.

Monday, June 10, 2013

Ward 2 CM Jack Evans will appear on NewsTalk with Bruce DePuyt June 10 at 10:00 am to talk about his run for mayor in 2014. This is the first in-depth interview of Evans since his June 8 campaign kickoff.

DPW's annual Truck Touch event will be even better this year with the addition of the kick off of One City Summer Initiative (OCSI 2013). Truck Touch takes place June 15 from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm at RFK Stadium, Lot 7. District government agencies will do an uber show and tell, demonstrating and explaining how the vehicles are used to clean and repair streets, change traffic lights, fix potholes, clear snow, and provide emergency services.

Mayor Vincent Gray’s official summer kick-off event will take place June 15 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm in the adjacent Lot 6 and will offer activities for kids of all ages as well as family services and information. Nonprofits and government agencies will participate in the summer kickoff festivities.

Sunday, June 9, 2013

I can no longer donate blood or platelets but I'm hoping you can. Please call the CNMC Blood Donor Center at 202-476-KIDS (5437) to learn more and/or make an appointment. It's quick and easy and you get juice and cookies! And free parking.

Friday, June 7, 2013

Ward 6 resident Charles Allen summarizes the resiliency of DC residents and businesses in his blog post 24 Hours After the Fire. The Friends of Frager’s relief fund has been created and Eastern Market will host Frager's pop up store this weekend.

Remember, more than just Frager's was impacted; small businesses on the second floor of the buildings also lost everything.

Charles Allen's Reaction to Frager’s Fire summarizes the tragedy that took place June 5 at Frager's. Highlights from Allen's blog post:

Just a surreal night. When I arrived on the scene, I found John Weintraub, owner of Frager’s. He was calling employees one-by-one to make sure all were safe. After good news, we focused on getting him connected with the leadership of Fire & EMS so he could stay abreast of the fire.

On a hopeful note, before I handed John off to Chief Donnelly of FEMS to go to the Command Center, he was already talking about rebuilding.

Follow the blog for updates about Frager's and lots of other Ward 6 news.

Thursday, June 6, 2013

At-large CM David Catania, who also chairs the Committee on Education, has a snazzy new website and newsletter. Check out the new davidcatania.com.

The new website contains details about committee actions, including a calendar; press releases and the CM's schedule; and contact info for key staff. If you haven't already signed up for the CM's newsletter, you can do so easily. Sign up using the tool on the upper right-hand part of each page.

Can the DC Circulator provide better service to DC residents and visitors? For example, while the Circulator provides a valuable service to Ward 8 residents, could more be done? Should routes change?

The District Department of Transportation's Semi-Annual Circulator Forum, taking place June 18 from 6:00 - 8:00 pm at Studio Theatre (1501 14th St NW) is the opportunity for residents and stakeholders to comment on the strengths and weaknesses of the bus system to ensure the DC Circulator continues to meet the needs of current and future riders.

Robert Bettmann, artist and arts advocate, makes the case for maintaining the short-lived practice of approving the budget without earmarking and lettermarking in Don't Let Earmarks Return in D.C. (a HuffPost op-ed). The ear/lettermarking process, according to Bettman, denies competition for grant awards and "are an inefficient and quixotic way to achieve policy goals, and one could easily argue, represent an abuse of the public pocketbook."

Bettman pays much needed attention to a practice that is creeping back into the budget process. In my view, earmarking was bad before and is equally bad now. And it's bad for the same reasons I articulated in Bigger than the Bennett report in February 2010:

As interesting as all of the juicy stories might be, and as important as CM Barry’s transgressions are, what is more important to me is what is embedded in the comment Ward 7 CM Yvette Alexander made at the release of the report: A lot of nonprofits serving residents east of the river rely on earmarks (go to 1:11:20).

What I believe is embedded in this statement:

For some organizations it is too hard to compete for funding; it is easier to get earmarks

Earmarks are less of a burden than regular grants or contracts

Elected officials make better decisions about meeting needs than grant managers

Elected officials can "tell" which organizations are good or worthwhile

There is still time for earmarks and lettermarks to be struck from the budget support act. If you believe they are a bad form of budgeting, email Council Chairman Phil Mendelson. But act soon; the second and final vote on the BSA is June 18.

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Ward 5 CM Kenyan McDuffie invites Ward 5 residents and stakeholders to his State of the Ward Address June 25 at 6:30 pm at Luke C. Moore High School (1001 Monroe St NE). The CM will discuss numerous accomplishments for Ward 5 and present his vision for the future of the ward.

Parking will be available in the school’s parking lot and on the street.

The DC Council will meet June 4 at 10:00 am in the Council Chamber for a regularly-schedule Legislative Meeting. On the agenda (PDF) are the usual introductions, readings, ceremonial resolutions, and legislative chit-chat. Some of the items to be considered are on the June 4 leg meeting event page.

If your organization received funding for summer 2013, please share your social media outlet information. The information will be used to do outreach, highlight providers, and much more. Social media info for non-Trust funded orgs will be collected in another way; you're not being ignored!

At-large CM David Grosso will guest on NewsTalk with Bruce DePuyt June 3 at 10:00 am to talk about ethics reform, the proposal to ease the city’s marijuana laws, food truck regulation, and the 2014 campaign.

Sunday, June 2, 2013

Techies, subject matter experts, and others converged on the John A. Wilson Building May 31, Google's DC office June 1, and Affinity Lab June 1 and 2 for #hackfordc, part of #hackforchange. In DC, National Day of Civic Hacking resulted in Homework Helper, major improvements to the DC Code, linking 990s and 211 information, and interactive map of libraries and museums.

The work done demonstrates what can be done when variously skilled people come together to solve problems, answer questions, and share information.